British Airlinesย decidedย ย to be the first EU airline to stop transportingย ย goods from Lebanonย effective March 1ย , because theย Beirut airport ย authorities failed to implementย theย ย new EU screening requirements, Lebanon’s Public Works Minister Ghazi Zeaiter announced Friday.
This development comes after the European Union issued a memo to the Public Works Ministry informing it of a decision to stop transporting goods from Beirut airportย overย security screening concerns.
Last July, the EU launched a program designed to ensure the appropriate screening and validation of cargo entering the EU from any third country airport, according to the Airports Council International – a global trade representative of the worldโs airports.
Airports that do not meet aviation security screening procedures will be unable to continue doing business in the EU as they will not be authorized to carry any inbound mail or cargo.
As a part of the new program, measures must ensure all cargo and mail carried to the EU are physically screened, or come from a secure supply chain. For Lebanon, this means that carriers will need to update the security programs, processes and screening equipment.
Zeaiter onย ย Friday assured that the airportโs shipping center would be equipped with tools that would ensure safe shipment. โThere is full coordination between Lebanonโs Civil Aviation and the European Union,โ he said during a press conference
Lebanonโs airport, which currently lacks explosive detection devices, will be equipped with the tools, and its staff will be trained in their use within two days, Zeaiter saidย Fridayย without elaboratingย ย when the detection devices were set to arrive.
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